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Cart Horse Protection Association

Conservation, Environment and Animal Welfare
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About

Category
Conservation, Environment and Animal Welfare
Summary
We provide essential services and protection to the working cart horses and their owners living on the Cape Flats who collect scrap metal as means of generating an income for their families.
About the Organisation

OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE WELFARE OF THE WORKING CART HORSES ON THE CAPE FLATS

Cart Horse Protection Association is the only animal welfare in Cape Town that has been providing services to and protecting the welfare of the working cart horses on the Cape Flats since 1995. We work in partnership with the carting community, i.e. cart horse owners and drivers who rely on their working horses to generate an income for themselves and their families. 

Members of the carting community face serious socio – economic challenges on a daily basis, rampant gang violence, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and crime. Education levels are low, which makes it difficult for them to enter the formal job market. People live hand to mouth with little or no savings to see them through difficult times.

Their working cart horses are a cost effective, simple solution to strengthening their livelihoods. They impact on their lives and that of the greater community in a number of ways: 

Economic - Job creation. Enabling their owners, drivers and their families to participate in work, allowing them to move out of unemployment and thus boosting their economic capacity. The cart horse operators’ average gross daily income is R287 per day depending on how much scrap metal is available to them. 1  1. Socioeconomic Impacts of Cart Horses in the Cape Flats, Western Cape, South Africa. Dr Joanna Nevison de Klerk, BVetMed Honours, 2017 

Social - Transporting people and supporting the community 

Human health - Bettering their owners’ lives 

Environmental - Cleaning up and transporting rubble, scrap and garden waste with a non-emission mode of transport

Our holistic approach ensures that we provide for every aspect of the health and well being of their working cart horses.

Proper nutrition - Oat hay and 10% horse meal is supplied at heavily subsidised rates

Professional foot care - Our four farriers attend to all hoof care and shoeing needs

Correct harnessing - Carrying out of repairs and supplying new replacement pieces

Roadworthy carts - Repairs to and complete overhaul of un-roadworthy carts

Parasite control - Free de-worming every 3 months

Veterinary care - Veterinary service offered 24/7, 365 days a year

Dentistry - Dental appointments scheduled on a needs basis

Suitable stabling - Inspection of stables and supply of shavings for bedding

Humane working conditions - Patrolling and inspection on the road while horses work

Protection - Enforcing of the Animals Protection Act cases of abuse and neglect

Industry regulation - Free gelding, lobbying for legislation governing horse drawn vehicles

Education and training - Owner & driver workshops, Equine Welfare Training Programmes, Welfare Farrier Training Programmes, Animal Welfare Legislation Training Programme to create a Code of Best Practice for equine welfare in South Africa

 

We run three key service delivery programmes that implement the twelve aspects of our approach.

 

Static and Mobile Clinics

°        Five morning clinics at Epping, afternoon clinics in Sweet Home Farm and Ottery and provide services at home visits in Delft and Phillipi East that are accessible and affordable.

°        Distribute subsidised feed –correct feeding practices maintain condition, provide energy and prevent illness.

°        A professional farrier service - access to this service minimises the risk of horses unable to work due to lameness.

°        Harness repair to ensure that harnessing is properly fitted and maintained to alleviate wounds caused by wire or unsuitable materials.

°        Cart building and repairs to ensure that carts are road worthy and do not pose a danger to public safety.

°        Free shavings which is used for bedding in the back yard stables. This ensures that the stables are kept clean and dry thus preventing hoof disease and lameness.

°        Full welfare inspection of horse, cart and harness to prevent abuse by booking working cart horses off work for a specified period, if they are not in good health or show signs of injury and/or lameness.

 

Veterinary & Inspectorate

°        Provide a 24/7 - 365 days a year free veterinary service, diagnosing and treating sick and injured cart horses and referral of severe cases to consultant veterinarians

°        Administer free de-worming every 3 months and tetanus vaccinations are once a year.

°        Registration and micro-chipping of all working cart horses

°        Enforce the provisions of the Animal Protection Act in cases where working cart horses are abused or neglected despite the services and support offered by the Association

°        Educate owners and drivers on reasons for warnings and confiscations in relation to the Animal Protection Act and laws governing animal drawn vehicles on public roads

°        Encourage owner and driver participation in all aspects of the welfare of their working horses to affect behaviour change

°        Be available 24/7 to respond to all call outs of abuse on the roads and conduct organised road patrols and road blocks

°        Host E53 Operator Permit Workshops every 3 months for new drivers, focusing on signs, safety signalling and road rules to decrease the incidents of motor vehicle accidents

°        Network with and offer training to the Department of Safety and Security, Law Enforcement, security companies and City Improvement District Agencies on legislation pertaining to working cart horses

°        Visit and inspect all stable yards to assess the welfare of the horse, stable size, tethering, accessibility of grazing, availability of feed and water, cleanliness of stables and bedding, stable floor and structure, safety and ventilation

°        Improve the standard and safety of backyard stables through provision of materials, shavings and horse equipment

 

Recovery & Rehabilitation Centre

°        Accommodate cart horses for the required period, who are seized on the road because they are unfit to work

°        Accommodate and rehabilitate cart horses that have been permanently confiscated under the provisions of the Animals Protection Act

°        Re- home rehabilitated cart horses via our Adoption Programme

°        Carry out regular follow up home checks to ensure the continued welfare of the horse in our Adoption Programme

°        Provide veterinary treatments, alternative therapies and exercise to sick and injures cart horses.

Email
info@carthorse.org.za
Phone Number
0215353435
Address
92 Bofors Circle, Cape Town, Cape Town Western Cape WC, South Africa, 7475
Service Area
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Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre
The Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre in Gordon's Bay is a place of safety and healing for our confiscated horses.
Service Areas
 Gordon's Bay Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Veterinary Care
We believe no horse should suffer simply because its owner cannot afford a private vet. Our round-the-clock emergency and preventative care is a free resource that protects the health of the horse and the livelihood of the owner. By providing immediate access to treatment we prevent the tragic, slow deaths caused by untreated illness or injury ensuring that every working animal has a chance to recover and thrive.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, South Africa
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Holistic Horse Welfare
Our unique approach to working cart horse welfare remains holistic and proactive. By focusing on preventative services, we address potential issues before they arise, setting our organisation apart in the field.
Service Areas
 Epping Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Correct Harnessing
We believe a good fit is the first line of defense against injury. Our harness shop repairs and manufactures high-quality harnesses so that horses aren't working with dangerous, temporary fixes like string and wire. This proactive care stops harness wounds before they start, keeping horses comfortable and productive.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Epic Epping
Epic Epping is a community of neighbors moving forward together. Businesses here become truly "epic" when they support the Cart Horse Protection Association. By partnering with us, our local neighbors prove that compassion is the best business strategy for a thriving district.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Proper Nutrition
Our feed programme served as a vital safety net for owners. By providing subsidised or free feed when a horse was unable to work due to illness or injury, we prevented starvation in the stables and ensured that those returning to the road maintained a body condition necessary for work.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Professional Foot Care
Our professional farrier service is a cornerstone of our preventative care. By providing expert shoeing, we eliminate the pain and lameness caused by 'backyard' or inexperienced work. We ensure every horse is perfectly balanced and correctly fitted, preventing the debilitating injuries that stem from untrained workmanship.
Service Areas
 Cape Town
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Roadworthy Carts
Our cart workshop ensures all vehicles are roadworthy, preventing the injuries and exhaustion caused by poorly maintained equipment. These repairs are performed in collaboration with the owners, creating a unique educational environment that fosters better care and safer driving practices.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, South Africa
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Dentistry
Good dental hygiene is essential for any horse but for a working horse it is a matter of safety and comfort. We schedule regular dental checks to correct overgrowth before it causes injury. Without this care the pressure of a bit against sharp teeth causes painful sores turning a willing horse into one that struggles with pain. Our dental programme prevents this suffering at the source.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Parasite Control
We maintain an active parasite control program by providing free de-worming every three months. This prevents heavy internal parasite loads that lead to poor body condition, colic, and long-term health decline. Additionally we provide essential tetanus vaccinations—a life-saving measure in environments where horses face a high risk of injury from sharp or rusty stable materials.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, South Africa
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Humane Working Conditions
Cape Town’s working horses are vital to the local economy, collecting scrap and refuse. Our proactive strategy ensures humane conditions through patrols and roadblocks that inspect every horse, cart, and harness for safety. We specifically monitor for overloading, speed, and improper driving to prevent physical strain. By enforcing strict heat-safety protocols, we proactively mitigate the risks of exhaustion and heatstroke before they occur.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, South Africa
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Suitable Stabling
Our regular stable inspections are a cornerstone of our welfare strategy, ensuring no horse falls through the cracks. We microchip every horse to track population numbers and movement across yards. By assessing living conditions like ventilation and safety, we provide education, materials, or bedding before an environment becomes a health risk.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Training & Education
Education and training are at the heart of our work. We capitalize on "teachable moments" during clinics, patrols, and stable visits to provide ongoing guidance. For deeper impact, formal initiatives like the Pegasus Enrichment Programme focus on animal sentience. By teaching owners and youth that horses feel pain, sorrow, and joy, we foster a culture of empathy. This investment inspires a new generation to treat their horses with respect and share that compassion within their communities.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Protection
While our focus is always on support and education, we maintain a firm last-resort policy to prevent ongoing suffering. When efforts to provide resources and training are met with persistent neglect or abuse, we proactively enforce the Animals Protection Act. This involves taking legal action to permanently confiscate the horse or, in severe cases, pursuing criminal prosecution.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Industry Regulation
To prevent horse population growth from exceeding community care capacity, we provide a free gelding programme to stop uncontrolled breeding. Our Yellow ID Plate system ensures road accountability for every cart, while E53 Permit training acts as a safety measure. This equips drivers with essential road safety knowledge and technical skills for safe, correctly fitted harnessing.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Major Funders
Major funding received from proposals
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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B-BBEE Contributions
We are a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor and a registered Public Benefit Organisation (930 000 749). By partnering with us you can achieve a B-BBEE boost which makes it an easy way to strengthen your procurement and SED points at the same time. As a registered PBO you can claim tax deductions on every qualifying donation you make. Have real-world Impact as our work isn't just charity—it’s a direct way to hit the social targets in your global ESG strategy.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Woolworths - My Difference
The Woolworths MyDifference campaign is the 2026 merger of WRewards and MySchool into a single, digital-first loyalty program. By using the Woolies app, you get instant savings, personalized vouchers, and cashback through games, while Woolworths automatically donates to up to three chosen causes at no cost to you. It helps by consolidating all your benefits into one dashboard and providing real-time tracking of your total charitable impact.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Working in Equine Welfare - Online Courses
Learn to be an effective equine welfare worker with our distinctive online course. Develop the knowledge, skills and attitude to contribute to the essential and important work of equine welfare.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Calendar
Our annual Calendar fundraising initiative.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Second Hand Tack Sales
All donated second hand tack is either re-purposed to repair harness, is sold at our partner outlets to raise funds or donated to the Semonkong Veterinary Clinic in Lesotho.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Website Advertising
For only R250.00 a month you can advertise your business on our website.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Bequests
you can make a difference in the long term … include us in your Will if you want the welfare of the working cart horses cared for beyond your life time. If you are passionate about the work we do and the welfare of the working cart horses is close to your heart, please consider including us in your Will.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Fundraising Events
To create awareness and to raise funds.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Marathon Income
Two Oceans, Sanlam and Comrades
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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Donations in Kind
Any product that will benefit the working horses.
Service Areas
 Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape WC, South Africa
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